Town Ordinances

DOG POLICY

Registered dogs are allowed on public beaches, which shall include, for the purposes of this article, all of those lands within the Town of Westerly which are reserved to the public for lateral access along the shore and commonly known as the “public trust lands,” from the day after Labor Day to May 1 at any time and from May 2 to Labor Day from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m., but they must be on a leash and all droppings must be picked up and removed from the beach by the individual walking or having control of the dog.

Notwithstanding any other provision herein, dogs are prohibited from any area demarcated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or its partners, designees and agents as piping plover nesting areas.

Seeing Eye dogs, other dogs assisting the disabled and police dogs are allowed to attend their owner or custodian as needed.

Allowing dogs to run is prohibited. No person owning, keeping or harboring a dog of whatever age shall allow such dog to go out on any highway or public place and growl, snap or bite, or otherwise annoy any person; or bark at, run in front of, run beside, run after or pursue any motor vehicle.

Penalty - Every person violating any provisions shall be subject to a fine of $25.

ALCOHOL AND CONTAINERS

It shall be unlawful for any person to take any disposable glass or metal on any beach or picnic area, or to consume alcoholic beverages from any bottle, glass or metal container on any public way within the Town.

SURFING

All surfing and the use of surfboards are prohibited on waters within the Town and at the beaches in the Town between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during the period of June 1 to October 1 of each year except in such areas as the Town Council may designate and mark out with appropriate safeguards and except those waters adjacent to rocky shores within the Town.

MOTOR VEHICLES

Motor Vehicles on beaches or sand dunes adjacent to beaches are prohibited except:

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or drive a motor vehicle above mean high tide upon any public bathing beach, or semipublic beach, or any beach used by the public at large, within the Town, whether with or without fee, from the first day of May of each year to the Saturday after Labor Day or during the period when such beaches are in operation and protected by lifeguards.

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or drive a motor vehicle on sand dunes adjacent to beaches within the Town, except on traditional access ways.

The operation of motor vehicles on barrier beaches is permitted in compliance with state regulations.

The operation of motorcycles, mini-bikes, snowmobiles, all-terrain motorized cycles, and tricycles is prohibited at any time on all beaches and sand dunes adjacent to same within the Town.

These prohibitions shall not apply to police or other emergency vehicles and vehicles used solely for the purpose of sanitation, conservation or construction in such mentioned areas, or other authorized management-related vehicles as regulated and allowed by state law.